Philatelic Literature Society

The Philatelic Literature Society (1907–1918)[1] was a society to promote the cause of philatelic literature among philatelists at a time when information about philately could be hard to obtain and philatelic books expensive.

Formation

The first meeting of the society was on 29 October 1907 at St.Bride's Institute in London and Edward Denny Bacon, later a President of the Royal Philatelic Society London, was appointed its first President.[2] He remained in that post until 1914.[1] The founding Vice-President was B.T.K. Smith, the Hon. Secretary and Treasurer was F.J. Peplow and the ordinary members were H. Clark, Johnny Johnson, Fred Melville and H.E. Weston.[2]

Works

One of the most important works of the Society was a catalogue of the Crawford Library, written by Bacon, titled The Catalogue of the Philatelic Library of the Earl of Crawford, K.T., a work which won a Large Gold medal at the Postwertzeichen Ausstellung stamp exhibition in Vienna in 1911.[1] A supplement to the catalogue was published in 1926 by the PLS and an addenda in the March 1938 edition of The London Philatelist, both by Bacon.

Journal

A journal was published, titled simply the Journal of the Philatelic Literature Society. Only one hundred copies of each issue were printed.[3]

Demise

The society was disbanded in 1918 and, despite attempts to revive it, was dissolved in 1929.[1]

References

1. Sir Edward Denny Bacon, KCVO (1860-1938): A short biographical sketch by Ron Negus. Supplement to The London Philatelist, 1999.
2. "The Philatelic Literature Society" in The London Philatelist, Vol. XVI, No.191, November 1907, p.264.
3. The London Philatelist, Vol LVIII, No.674, January 1949, p13

Further reading

• King-Farlow, Roland. Journal of the Philatelic Literature Society cumulative index. Volumes I-XI, 1908-1918. London: Royal Philatelic Society, 1948.